Adjustable stub axle joint



Jan. 12 1926. 1,559,311

l.. M. BARsTow ADJUSTABLE STUB AXLE JOINT l Filed March 23 l L. MEARLSTUW..

EJK

Patented Jan. 12, 1926.

UNITED sfrArEs` LAWRENCE M. BARSTOW, O INDEX, WASHINGTON.

ADJUSTABLE vS'YlUIBl AXLE JOINT.

Application led' March 23, 1925. Serial No. 17,655.

To all 107mm t may concern.'

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE M. BAR- s'row, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Index, in the county of Snohomish and State ofllashington, have inventedl certain new and useful Improvements inAdjustable Stub Axlel Joints, of which the following is a specification.i f

rfhis invention relates to vehicle'axl'es, and especially to an improvedadjustable stub axlejoint.

It is well known `that the steering mechanism of most all modern landvehicles, especially motor vehicles, includes a jointed axle having twospindles onY which the wheels are mounted to rotate, and `that thebottoms of the wheels must be closer together than the tops thereof, inorder that thewheel'smay travel properly. If the wearing of the pivotaloints of the axle permits the wheels to be as close to one another atthe top as at the bottom, the wheels travel improperly, and often causethe vehicle to travel in a sideto-side manner which is known asVshimmying. Such side-to-side motion is not only very detrimental to thewheels, axles, and other parts of the vehicle, but also renders theguidingv of the vehicle very difficult, resulting in danger andl inactual serious '.accidents.

The main object of this invention is to provide means for making suchadjustment that not only prevents looseness of the pivotal connections,but constantly tends to preserve the above-mentioned relative positionsof the wheels, that is, keeping their bottoms closer together than theirtops. j

Another object is to provide a device of this character which is ofcomparatively simple construction, strong, durable, convenient andthoroughly eiiicient and practical.

Other objects and important features are pointed out or implied in thefollowing. details of description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Figure l is an axial verticall section through one of the pivotalconnections of the jointed vehicle-axle, which includes my invention.yFigure 2 is a top plan view. Figure 3 is a horizontal sectionalview,the sections being in the plane indicated by line o 3 3 of Figure1.

Referring to these drawings in detail, in which similar referencecharacters correspond to similar parts throughout the ysevber of theaxle is indicated at 5, and the lspindle sectionl is indicated at 6; butit is to be understood that these two axle members may be reversed, thatis, that the member 5 may be bifurcated as the present drawings show themember 6 to be, and vice versa. Therefore, these two parts 5 and 6 willhereinafter be referred to by the broad term axle members. The axlemember 5 embraces the central or intermediate part of the pivote orpin 7so tightly that this pivot cannot turn therein. In order that it maythus embrace such pivot, the bore 8, through which the pivot extend-s,may communicate with aslot 9 through which bolts 10 extend, and bykeeping these bolts tight, the pivot 7 is tightly clamped so it cannotturn in the bore 8, and therefore does not wear the bore or wear withinthe bore.

The axle member 6 is pro-vided with upper and lower cavities 11 and 12which communicate with bores 13 in the upper and lower furcations ofthevaxle member 6 and through these bores 13, the pivot 7 extends intothe cavities 11 and'12. Now, referring specilically to the form of theinvention khere shown, and considering the parts facing towards thespindle 14; to be the outer parts, it will be seen that the lower cavity.12'has' a bearing element 15 fitted snugly and immovably'thcrein, whilethe upper cavity 11 has a similarbearing'element 15 in its inner side,thatv is, on the side of the pivot 7 opposite to that side against whichthe lower bearing element-'15 is litted. These elements 15 are immovablebecause of their contiguity, respectively, with upper and lowerretaining plates 16 which entirely cover the respective upper and loweropenings of the cavities 11 and 12, that is, when the openings 17 and 18of these plates are closed by means of threaded plugs or screws 19 vand20. The plates 16 are also apertured for the reception of screws orstud-bolts 21 which are threaded into the upper and lower part-s of themember 6 and are removable for the purpose of removing theretainingplates if such removal. should become necessary or desirable. n

A wedge-shaped bearing element 22is flt ted" against the outer sideofthe pivot 7, at the upper end of` the-latter, and a similar bearingclement 22y isfitted againsty the inner .si-de of the lower end ofthepivot 7, each of these bearing element-s being spaced a drstance fromthe wall of the cavity in which it is contained. A wedge 24; is fittedbetween the out-er side of the upper wedge-shaped bearing element 22 andthe wall ot the upper ity 1.1, and a similar wedge 2st is fitted as instthe, inner side of the wedge-element ot the lower cavity 12. Thesewedges 24 are iu such relation to the screws 19 that they are forcedinto wedging action against the respective elements 22 when theirrespective screws 1S) are turned for screwing them inward through therespective plates 16.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that 'the respectivewedges of the upper and lower cavities tend to force the loweriiurration of the axle member 6 inward, and the upper one outward withrespect to the axis of the pivot 7. 1n other words, assuming that theaxis ot the pivot T is exactly vertical, and that the axis of thespindle 14 is exactly horizontal, because ot the pivot seats in thebearing element 22 being worn, the action of the wedges 2i against thewedge elements 22, and the walls oi" the cavities 11 and 12, vill forcethe outer end of the spindle 1-1 downward, assuming that the axis of thepivot 7 remains vertical. On the other hand, it will be understood thatthe weight o't the vehicle on its spindles 1a constantly tends to tipthe outer ends of the spindles upward, thereby exerting practically allot 'the pressure on the wedge elements 22, and thereby relieving thebearing elements 15 of such pressure that would cause them to wearrapidly. In other words, the tar greater part of the wear takes place inthe pivot seats o'f the wedge elements 22, and since these wedgeelements are quickly and easily adjustable by screw ine` the screws 19inward, so that by periodicarly attending to these slight adjustments,the disadvantages and dangers ot Lshimmying are avoided.

Although any appropriate means may be provided for preventing retrogrademovement of the adjusting screws 1S), l preter to employ the hollowbolt-locks or caps 25. The cavity 26 ol each member conlforms to theperipheral contour of either head of the screws 19; for instance, wherehexagonal heads are employed on the screws 19, as shown, the internalcontour ot the members 25 is hexagonal, although it is understood thatany internal contour, ex cept eylii'idrieal, may be employed, providedit contorms to the contour ot the adjusting screw heads. Each ineniber25 is provided with a l'langc which has one surace or main side ilushwith the open sideof the cavity 26, this flange being indicated at 27and being provided with a bolt-hole or screw-hole 28 through which oneof the screws 21 may extend for securing the meniber 253 in position tolool: against retrograde movement the adjusting screw 19 which iscontained therein. However, the 'flange 2T ot each4 member may have itsaperture 28 in registration with either of the oil inlets 18, and thelatter may be threaded to receive the respective screw or plug 20, whichlatter not only closes the oil inlet, but also secures the retainingcaps 25 in place. rlhese caps also protect the threads of the adjustingscrews against dust, moisture, and other agencies which tend to rust andclog the threads, it being understood that the joints between these capsand the respective plates may be rendered water-tight by means otgaskets or other appropriate means (not shown).

A considerable space is provided between the elements 15 and 22 of eachcavity 11 and 12. which not only permits of the desii-ed adjustments,but also provides means of ready access of oil or other lubricatingmaterial with which the cavities 11 and 12 may be illed through theinlets 18.

It is not my intention to limit my patent protection to the exactdetails of construction and arrangement here described and shown, butchanges may be made without departure from the inventive ideas asimplied and claimed.

lVhat I claim as my invention is:

1. An adjustable axle joint including an axle member, a pivot having asubstantially vertical axis and having its intermediate portion embracedby said axle member', a second axle member, the latter having upper andlower urcations provided with cavities therein respectively, a pair ofbearing elements in each ot said cavities and receiving the upper andlower ends of the pivot between the bearing elements ot each pair, thesebearing elements of each pair being spaced from one another, a wedgeagainst the inner side of the inner bearing element ot the lower pair, awedge against the outer side ot the outer bearing member of the upperpair, and means to actuate these wedges for pressing the lower end ofsaid second axle member inward and pressing the upper end thereofoutward with respect to the axis of said pivot, substantially asdescribed.

2. T he structure defined by claim 1, said means including a platecovering one of said cavities, and retaining a bearing element therein,and an adjusting screw threaded in and extending through said plate andbeing operable to force the adjacent wedge between the other bearingelement and the wall o1e this cavity.

3. rThe structure defined by claim 1, said means including a platecovering each of said cavities, each ot these plates having an adjustingscrew threaded therein and operable to push the wedges inwardly ot thecavities, each oli said plates having an oil inlet therethrough incommunication with the respective cavities, a pair of caps havinlets forclosing the latter while securing' ing` non-cylindrical cavitiesconforming to the respective caps in position for locking 10 the headsor" the adjusting screws, and enand protecting the respective adjustingclosing' the latter respectively, each of said screw.

5 caps being provided with an apertured In testimony whereof I aix mysignaliange, and a plug for each iange, each 01"" ture.

these plugs extending' through its flange of the respective cap andengaging with the oil LAVRENCE M. BARSTOVV.

